Single-disc, 77-minute compilation of two long-unavailable classical LPs that
Byrd recorded in 1958-60 for the Washington label, An Anthology of Music for the Guitar -- The Sixteenth Century and Lodovico Roncalli Suites. (Unfortunately, one of the tracks from An Anthology of Music for the Guitar -- The Sixteenth Century, "Tres Fantasies (Three Fantasies)," was deleted for space reasons).
Byrd interprets courtly dances and folk songs of Spanish composers of the 16th century on Anthology, and presents four longer (average track length: ten minutes) suites from the 17th century by the little-known Italian composer Lodovico Roncalli on Lodovico Roncalli Suites. It's a fine compendium of
Byrd's talents as a virtuoso classical interpreter, and one would guess that works such as this were an influence on guitarist
Sandy Bull in the 1960s. ~ Richie Unterberger